112 Comments on this post:

I believe lawmakers should take note of and heed the results, particularly the part indicating voters do not share their priorities.

I suspect, however, they will ignore any criticism and continue their bold charge forward into the past.

Ideally, polls should provide legislators with insight into the wishes and opinions of the masses, suggesting a course of action to best serve the public they supposedly serve.

This group, however, will most likely ignore the people and chart whatever course suits them and the fringe groups to who they cater.

I could be wrong though. (Hah)

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 6:21

Good morning, Nashville.

Again, the NCP couldn't think of some unique topic for this Comment Board; so, they just doubled up on the VU poll story, which was already covered elsewhere in the paper.

The right-wing Tea-Baggers who are running the Volunteer State don't need no steenking polls to guide their lawmaking efforts....they take their marching orders from the Koch Brothers, the Heritage Foundation, the NRA, the BBB and various other right-wing special interest groups.

Governor Haslam enjoys a popularity that IMO he does not deserve...but then again, they measure competence and efficacy differently in the red states than they do around here. We don't award points to politicians simply because of their professed Christian faith, for example....and 2nd Amendment "rights" are not the top priority here, as they are in the former confederacy.

In summary, the VU poll was a waste of money...the politicians have their own agenda already set....the public's interests are of little interest to these armed & dangerous theocratic zealots.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 6:31

Governor Haslam enjoys a popularity that IMO he does not deserve...

Amen, brother. But, it appears the the 2nd amendmen stuff isn't a priority here for most, either, if you read the poll. The economy is. Not that there isn't a substantial portion of people here who think they should have the right to carry a Gatlin gun in the back of their truck lined with the Stars and Bars, but many more would like something more...realistic...rational...based in reality, and practical to their life.

Representatives need to re-examine their job responsibilities. They represent the people, not special interests, nor should they put party issues ahead of what the constituents desire. If we want priority for the economy, that's what they should do. They work for us.

By:yogiman on 12/13/12 at 6:44

Out legislators seem to have forgotten we stupid voters put them in office, Ask01. Their domineering attitudes are why I've never voted for one for more than two terms.

And they should not get a retirement plan they gave to themselves. They're only working part time, aren't they? Have you ever had a part time job with retirement benefits.... unlress you pay into Social Security?

By:yogiman on 12/13/12 at 6:46

The NCP owns this board, Loner. It's their right to put any topic on they wish. If you don't like what they want to 'hear' you can always stay in Nu Yawk.

By:yogiman on 12/13/12 at 6:53

It looks like Barry's "care" plan has taken over without approval of Congress. I went to my doctor for a checkup yesterday and to get a prescription I have been on for over 15 years renewed. I took the prescription to my local pharmacy and was told it was denied by my insurance company because they questioned whether I needed it. I've now got to get an affirmation from my doctor before they will accept it.

I guess they know more than my doctor, eh?

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 6:53

You are right, Yogi, the NCP owns this board and they have the right to throw bigoted trolls over the transom...but, for some reason, they tolerate you....but that could change.

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 7:01

Gun rights may not be the top priority in the old confederacy states; but it is a top priority, for sure...near the top.

For people who constantly argue that government cannot create wealth or real, honest and productive jobs, they sue do whine a lot about how politicians should make "jobs" their top priority. Of course, logic was never a part of the tea-bagger movement....it was and remains emotion-based.....primarily, hate-based.

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 7:03

Typo: "they sue do whine" s/h/b "they sure do whine"....my bad.

By:yogiman on 12/13/12 at 7:03

Loner,

You mention the 2nd Amendment. Have you ever known of a gun that's killed someone? I haven't. It's always been someone holding it in their hand and pulling the trigger. Of course it could have been dropped by someone that didn't have it set properly and killed them when it hit the ground. But I'll bet you that gun didn't fall on purpose.

So, tell me, what would you prefer if someone was attacking you with a knife or baseball bat. Good shoes, a bigger bat or a gun? I prefer my gun, I can't run fast any more.

Have you ever known of a knife killing someone? I haven't either. It seems to take someone to stab you or slice you with that thing.

Have you ever known of a car to kill you when you are run over it by a drunk driver?

Have you ever known of any one being killed by anything other than another human being? I haven't. But then, it might be different in Nu Yawk.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 7:05

They do just like to complain, Loner. These are the same people who think Obama was manipulating oil prices in order to win the election. Of course now that he's been re-elected, he can let the prices increase again...

Oh wait...lol

The collective IQ of people go down in herds, especially when those herds are politically driven.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 7:06

Don't forget our pact, loner. Engaging certain knuckle-draggers will get you a lump of coal on the 25th...

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 7:25

It seems to me that the poll does not represent how the voters picked their law makers. There is a disconnect between the two, which I find amusing. As A whole the people think the House and Senate are a bunch of clowns, but their own man/woman is great.

There is a flaw in the system.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 7:26

That is right Loner what g says.

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 7:28

Operation Ignore the Ignoramus is now underway....I couldn't afford to pay the carbon tax on the lump of coal that Santa has in store for me....hopefully, he'll use a cheap, inferior version of Mapquest, to save a buck, and then misdeliver the load of anthracite.

By:bfra on 12/13/12 at 7:32

I don't think a poll of a measley 829 registered voters shows anything.

By:parnell3rd on 12/13/12 at 7:34

Lame topic! Polls are worthless! Like most of the libtards on this sight. One day they will finally move on.
I'm glad to hear yall have a little pact.

By:Blanketnazi2 on 12/13/12 at 7:34

829 is not really a realistic number for a poll.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 7:36

The mini troll is applying for the spotlight?

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 7:41

I think everyone's missing the point...be it 829, 1000 or 10K, people believe that much of the legislature is preoccupied with issues that have no bearing on them personally.

Does someone who's unemployed give a damn whether he can carry a gun in their car...or buy wine in the grocery or concerned about someone wearing baggy pants? There is a disconnect going on.

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 7:56

They claim a margin of error of 3 to 4 points, Bfra. I'm no statistician, they have that stuff down to a science these days...I take their word for it...to a degree...but I always ask, "Who funded the research?", before assigning validity to the results.

According to the main article, the poll was conducted by the "Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions".

I Googled: Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions....apparently the name has been resurrected from the dead; a think tank with that same name, in Santa Barbara, CA. The CSDI began operations in 1959, but it folded in 1987.

But it's back. Apparently, VU is now the parent organization for the CSDI.

I Googled around and got this info on the poll being discussed:

Source:
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/csdi/2012poll.php

Snippet:Over the coming weeks, CSDI will continue to publish findings on issues of education, healthcare, and gun control; topics covered in this survey, which included more than 829 registered voters. A total of 1001 respondents were polled, but not all were registered voters. Designed by both Professor Geer and VU Poll Co-Founder Joshua Clinton, the survey was formally distributed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 7:57

Maybe the poll should have included; do you think your legislator is doing a great job? Then see how the two questions line up together.

People who see the whole body as corrupt, may think their person is doing a good job.

We "trollers" aren't looking for the "spotlight"; you usurper admirers are. It it isn't a topic you "experts" think it should be, it shouldn't be posted on this site. It seems you "select six" know more than everyone else so your attitudes are: If you don't know what we know, you don't know it.

We "trollers" are simply trying to pass logical intelligent information down to you ignorant brilliant experts.

I'm still looking for iron proof evidence information from one of you one on your admired usuper.

By:yogiman on 12/13/12 at 8:03

Sorry, experts; I meant [If] it isn't a topic...

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:04

I don't think you are to far off Loner. If it is not what p3 wants to hear, then it is worthless. lol

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 8:06

That is a good point nemo, and we're all guilty. How many times have we said that Wall Street runs Washington, yet defend a party or person, as if they were the one honest person, above the fray?

By:bfra on 12/13/12 at 8:10

Some polls had Mitt winning the election. With the help of his 47% comment, his Jeep misinformation, his wife's "you people" & his son wanting to punch the President, we know how that worked out. Thank goodness!

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 8:10

The bottom line is that the TN Legislature is out of synch with the public interests....this is easy to explain: He who pays the piper, calls the tunes....'twas ever thus.

Since TN is so solidly red; the blue Democrats have thrown in the white towel and offer no serious alternative choices. When you have virtual one-party rule, underwritten by the special interests, corruption and ineptitude are to be expected.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:11

Like I said gdia, there is a flaw in the system. We humans are only human. We sometimes can't see the forrest for the trees.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:13

Correction; we often can't see the forest for the trees.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 8:16

Well, in fairness Loner, the Dems did the same for years. To me, this is like a child who was bullied and finally gets a chance to return the favor.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:17

Bottom line Loner, the TN legislatures are Teapublicans and are in full steam headed for the rocks.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:18

That is a good point g.

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:20

I might add that the Democrats and Republicans are not Teapublicans.

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 8:24

Anytime we see a situation with one-party rule, underwritten by the special interests, we see poor governance, waste, corruption, nepotism, sweetheart deals and general incompetence....unfortunately, this is usually the case when any political party, left right or whatever, is unopposed, fully-ensconced, politically safe and comfortable.

By:Loner on 12/13/12 at 8:32

Competition is good in sports and in the marketplace....and fair, honest competition between the political parties and the candidates, for the right to represent the voters, is essential in a democratic republic....remove the competitive element and incompetence and corruption are sure to follow...it's human nature.

The TN Democratic Party ought to view the VU poll as a call to arms....the voters may well be in the mood for change. Good luck!

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:35

I would like to do away with the party system. I'm not so sure that the founding fathers wanted a party system.

There is no party line government in No matter who is elected, there is no D or R behind their name.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 8:39

Washington warned us of the party system, and other things, in his farewell address.

The irony is that the founders themselves created the party system when Hamilton created his plan for assumption and the battle for that plan. That was where the line was drawn and from then on you had the Hamiltonians (Federalists) and Jeffersonians (anti-Federalists).

By:yogiman on 12/13/12 at 8:40

You're right on your question; Who pays the piper, Loner. But may I remind you, it isn't just the TN legislature. It's also the Nu Yawk legislature along with all of the other 57 (Barry's count) state legislatures. Then let's throw in the national legislature.

The legislatures are the ones elected to determine what's "good for us" and it's the businesses that's going to make a "pot full of money" off of it.

Can you name one bill passed by congress that private businesses didn't make money from?
Who brought the bill before congress?

By:Captain Nemo on 12/13/12 at 8:42

My former district house of representative told me once that he could not vote the way he wanted to, because the House Speaker had other plans for what he should do. PARTY LINES.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 8:46

You nailed it, Nemo. I don't have a problem with parties, I have a problem with how bloated they've becomed. We've gone from having them represent the people's wishes to enacting a party agenda.

By:budlight on 12/13/12 at 8:49

yogiman on 12/13/12 at 6:53
It looks like Barry's "care" plan has taken over without approval of Congress. I went to my doctor for a checkup yesterday and to get a prescription I have been on for over 15 years renewed. I took the prescription to my local pharmacy and was told it was denied by my insurance company because they questioned whether I needed it. I've now got to get an affirmation from my doctor before they will accept it.

Yogi, that happened to me and to at least two or three people I know. One was turned down for the asthma inhaler they have to have. It's going to get rough and we're all going to pay -- one way or the other. I hope the 47% who voted for obama blindly have to suffer as well. But they won't. He'll figure out how to reward them.

Capt. regarding your 8:42 post, even here in the Metro gov't that happens. When someone I know voted against Karl Dean on an issue, they got a tongue lashing and Dean (and the party) didn't support the person when they ran again. It is so obvious. OH well! Money talks.

By:dargent7 on 12/13/12 at 9:07

Buenos Noches.
Pouring over yesterday's transcripts I found no mention of " 12-12-12".
I was on a Light Rail at noon, so it was 12-12-12-12:00...nothing happened.
Reminds me whem I lived in Waikiki on 7-7-77 everyone thought Jesus was coming for sure.
Elvis gave his "Aloha from Hawai'i" final concert.
Jesus v. Elvis ?
Same difference.

By:gdiafante on 12/13/12 at 9:10

You do realize that Obamacare doesn't take effect until 2014 and that what you're complaining about is a very, VERY common occurance with most insurance carriers? If you have a problem, contact your insurance provider, don't look to blame the government.

By:Blanketnazi2 on 12/13/12 at 9:22

g, I was going to say that but decided that I didn't feel like debating people who don't understand simple concepts. For cryin' out loud, that has NOTHING to do with Obamacare. Sheesh.

By:bfra on 12/13/12 at 9:30

gdiafante & Blanket - Considering the source, did that surprise you?

By:dargent7 on 12/13/12 at 9:33

bfra:
Don't forget his other memorable quotes, "My wife owned a Cadillac, in fact two..."
Then paraded his 5 sons around, all of military age, and not one enlisted in his wars.
But his 4 car elevator in La Jolla is coming along nicely. The neighbors love it.
And Lovey picked out the carpeting this week.
Navy blue,....to match his balls.

By:bfra on 12/13/12 at 9:38

d7 - LOL Mitt made so many foul ups, did so much flip-flopping & just plain lied that I was surpised he got as many votes as he did. Shows how gullible some people are.

On a better note, hope the weather is good there & life is going well for you.